With its administrative seat in Elmsdale, the district occupies the eastern half of Hants County from the Minas Basin to the boundary with Halifax County, sharing this boundary with the West Hants municipal district. It was made in 1861 from the former townships of Uniacke, Rawdon, Douglas, Walton, Shubenacadie and Maitland. Its most settled area is in the Shubenacadie Valley.